Carnival of Viareggio - The tradition of the Viareggio Carnival has historic roots and dates to the 19th cent. The first masked parade was held in 1873 along the Via Regia, but in 1921 it moved on the sea front boulevards.

Ever since its beginning, huge allegorical floats have been the main characteristic of the event, built by artists known as the wizards of papier maché. Constructors are capable of achieving these huge works of art often having a base as large as 50 square metres and a weight of many quintals. The flots usually deal with national and international events and create original caricatures of celebrities of social and political life.

Nowadays float building is carried out at the recently built Carnival Citadel, an innovative area conceived also as a meeting place for the inhabitants of Viareggio and tourists alike. The place also contains the Carnival Museum and exhibitions halls as well as a playground for children and is an important venue for a range of concerts and other events. ... da "Versilia - Tourist Guide" (Versilia Toscana Italia)